What Do Architects Do to Integrate Sustainability Into Your Project?

Estimated Reading Time: 10 minutes

Welcome to the fifth blog in our series: What Do Architects Do to Integrate Sustainability Into Your Project?

We sat down with Studio Director and Senior Architect, Greg Piccini, to discuss all the decisions that need to be made to integrate sustainability into a project, and the strategies MSS uses to reduce the environmental impact of a build, save money, and protect the planet.

Introduction: I’m Greg, Studio Director and a Senior Architect here at MSS. Day-to-day, I help guide our projects from concept through to completion—coordinating our internal teams, managing schedules, and making sure everything runs smoothly. I’m the client’s main point of contact on a project. It’s my job to keep communication flowing, make sure the process stays on track, and help ensure the experience is as seamless as possible to deliver the client’s vision. 

Mentorship is also part of my role. I act as a sounding board for our newer staff—helping them problem-solve, build confidence, and grow in their careers.

Interviewer: When clients approach you about a new project, what are some of their most common sustainability issues or goals?

Greg: It really depends on the client. Some arrive with clear, well-defined targets—systems they want, performance numbers in mind, or a certification path they’re leaning toward. Others might want the project to be sustainable but aren’t sure how to get there. We bring our experience to the table, explain what’s possible, and show how sustainability can be built into the project in practical, achievable ways.

Many sustainable design strategies are mainstream today. Approaches to improve insulation, optimize natural light, or specify low-VOC (volatile organic compound) products are already part of our everyday process. So for clients who are newer to sustainability, the conversation often focuses on helping them understand that greener choices aren’t overwhelming or out of reach.

Those who are familiar with sustainable design often want to follow recognized frameworks or benchmarks required by LEED^® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) or Passive House certifications, for example. LEED^® takes a broad, holistic approach—it looks at everything from site selection and walkability to material toxicity and energy performance. Whereas Passive House strives to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions through high insulation levels, airtight construction, and efficient mechanical systems.

For some projects—especially in areas like social or seniors housing—there are specific sustainability standards tied to funding through CMHC, or the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, a federal agency that supports affordable and sustainable housing across Canada. 

To qualify for programs like CMHC, projects have to meet defined targets for energy efficiency, carbon reduction, and occupancy comfort. Hitting those goals can determine whether or not a project gets funding, so that’s often where the conversation begins.

Sometimes clients want to follow these principles without going through the full certification process. In these cases, we follow certification guidelines as a framework and aim to achieve the same performance goals. It’s about finding that balance—pushing sustainability as far as we can within the client’s budget and project scope, while still grounding everything in real-world feasibility.

Interviewer: What questions could a client expect to be asked at the first meeting?

Greg: Key questions might include: Do you have a structural system in mind (such as mass timber or cross-laminated timber, a steel frame, or reinforced concrete, to name a few)? What are your sustainability goals? Are you trying to achieve certification?

One of the most important considerations is the client’s long-term outlook: How long do you plan to own or occupy the building? The answer to this question shapes a lot of decisions. It helps us weigh short-term costs against long-term value and performance. Some clients are focused on immediate budgets, while others are planning for 30 or 50 years down the road.

The biggest opportunities to improve sustainability—like how a building is oriented on its site, how daylight and ventilation are used, or how systems are integrated—are decisions made at the beginning of a project. By getting answers to key questions in early conversations, we can help clients make choices that not only meet their sustainability goals but also often save money and improve the overall user or site experience.

Interviewer: How do you guide clients through sustainable design choices, especially when budgets are tight? Can you share an example?

Greg: It really comes down to priorities. When budgets are tight, we work closely with clients to simplify without compromising quality. We try to find smart ways to achieve the intent of the design while keeping costs realistic.

A good example of this is the House of Friendship project—a 105-bed supportive housing development currently under construction. From the start, the budget was extremely tight, so we had to strip the design back to its essentials. We simplified the architecture, rationalized the layout, and focused on strategies that delivered real value—like opportunities to bring natural light into key spaces and improve overall building performance.

At the same time, the project had to meet sustainability targets to qualify for CMHC funding, so every decision became a balance between cost and performance: Does this add value? Can we achieve the same outcome another way?

Interviewer: Can you share an example of a project where a simple, low-cost sustainable strategy, such as smart site orientation or materials, had a big payoff for the building’s performance or the comfort of its occupants?

Greg: There are design decisions that support sustainability and occupant comfort without driving up cost—like maximizing daylight, using durable finishes, and simplifying interiors. For the Manulife renovation, we reduced materials and costs by leaving ceilings exposed and using lighting and paint creatively to define the space. We were also able to donate, recycle, or reuse close to 95% of their furniture. This approach saved money and reduced waste, yet still gave the interiors a clean, modern feel.

Our job is to understand how materials perform over time—how durable they are, what their lifecycle looks like—and guide clients toward the options that deliver the best value. When we can specify products that serve more than one purpose—like a material that provides both structure and insulation—that’s a win. 

We used this approach at Parkwood Mennonite Homes. The building uses insulated concrete formwork—essentially a structural wall system where the insulation stays in place as part of the form. It’s a simple concept, but it dramatically improves the building’s thermal performance and durability. Combined with a brick exterior, it delivers a robust, low-maintenance envelope that will perform well for decades.

These kinds of strategies—smart site orientation, efficient envelopes, material restraint—are at the heart of our approach at MSS. They’re practical, cost-conscious, and contribute to healthier, more comfortable environments for the people who use them.

Interviewer: MSS is known for bringing deep technical expertise and collaboration to sustainable design. How does that expertise—including partnerships with consultants—help clients make smart sustainability decisions?

Greg: We work closely with a network of consultants who bring specialized expertise to each project. For example, we partner with Smith + Andersen and their energy division, Footprint, on projects like the House of Friendship and Indwell in Cambridge. They take our building design—the walls, windows, and roof assemblies—and run detailed energy models to show how the building will perform. That data gives us a clear picture of energy use, emissions, and where we can improve efficiency.

If the model shows higher energy use than expected, we collaborate to adjust the design—maybe refining the mechanical system, envelope, or glazing strategy—until the performance aligns with our targets and the client’s budget. Those models also help when tough trade-offs come up. If a client needs to trim costs, we can show them the impact of each change. For example, switching from triple-glazed to high-performance double-glazed windows might save $50,000 while still maintaining strong efficiency. With real data, they can make informed choices rather than guessing what they’re giving up.

Interviewer: In your experience, what does it take to create a truly sustainable building?

Greg: It starts with collaboration. You need everyone—clients, architects, consultants, and builders—at the table early, working toward a shared goal. When the whole team understands the sustainability vision from the outset, the right questions get asked at every stage: How will this choice affect performance? Will it support or compromise our goals? That ongoing dialogue helps keep the project aligned, even as budgets or designs evolve.

At MSS, we believe that a sustainable building isn’t defined by one feature or certification—it’s the result of clear intent, smart design, and teamwork. Examples of this include A Grander View, Canada’s first LEED^® triple platinum project, and both Breithaupt III and the BlackBerry Northfield Campus builds, which achieved LEED^® certification. 

Others, like the Old Post Office restoration, pushed sustainability in more complex ways, requiring us to make modern performance upgrades while preserving the heritage of the building. Adaptive reuse like that is one of the most powerful sustainability tools we have.

Interviewer: What differentiates MSS from other firms in its approach to sustainability?

Greg: First, our end-to-end rigour and ability to deliver. Sustainability doesn’t stop at the design stage—it has to carry through construction. We stay involved from start to finish, working closely with contractors and trades to make sure what we’ve drawn is executed properly on-site. That level of engagement ensures the performance we designed actually becomes reality.

Second, our collaborative mindset. We don’t just work with clients and consultants—we view builders, trades, and suppliers as part of the sustainability equation. Those partnerships create better outcomes because everyone understands the goals from the beginning and feels invested in achieving them.

And third, our openness to innovate. We’re not afraid to try new materials, methods, or technologies when they make sense for the project. Every building is unique, and that willingness to adapt keeps our work fresh and forward-thinking. Whether it’s a supportive housing project, a heritage retrofit, or a commercial fit-out, we bring the same curiosity and rigour to each one—and that’s what drives meaningful, lasting sustainability.

Have more thoughts or questions? Connect with Greg to continue the conversation.

Stay Tuned for Blog 6: What Do Architects Do During Construction?

In the next installment of our series, we’ll discuss an architect’s involvement in the construction phase of a project with Adam Morris, Director of Construction Administration, and how vital this is to delivering a project on time, on budget, and true to the design vision.

To explore the first four posts in our seven-part educational series “What Do Architects Do” follow the links below:

Blog 1: What Architects Do & Why You Need One.
Blog 2: What Do Architects Do When They Work With Interior Designers?
Blog 3: What Do Architects Do During the Design And Planning Stages?
Blog 4: What Do Architects Do When Collaborating With Other Professionals? 

*The information provided in this series is for educational purposes only and is not intended as professional advice. For guidance specific to your project, please consult a licensed architect or other qualified professional.

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